Who Wants To Live Forever

I know it's Christmas and I should be writing about the Christmas spirit and whatever but I'll leave it till I've got all my presents, he-he. Yesterday evening we watched The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, and it's something of a must-see, I think.

It's about two old chums who meet in the oncology department of a hospital, which is owned by one of them, in fact. Nicholson plays the playboy millionaire, Edward Cole, who wants to drink the best coffee, sleep with the most beautiful women, in short enjoy life. His room-mate, Carter Chambers has been a mechanic all his life, but wanted to be a History professor, and knows all the answers in Who wants to be a millionaire. When they learn that they have maximum a year to go, they make a so-called bucket list, which is the list of things to do before they kick the bucket. With Edward's money (private jet, PA) they have the means to travel the world, see the wonders, etc.
It's not really a comedy, especially because it starts in the hospital, with faithful portrayal of brain tumor. It's more like facing life and your possibilities. I think it's a big thing that these actors, who are about the same age as the characters in the story, accepted these roles because in a way they had to face their own growing old. The story builds on the clash between the characters, the old playboy and the humble family man. Both Nicholson and Freeman give their best; and despite the ending this film is not so much in contrast with the Christmas spirit. No theology, no didactics, pure life.